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Monday, July 07, 2008

X-Soldiers

I had a peculiar thought. I can't really think of any X-Men who are ex-American (present-day) military. I can think of a few that served in foreign or alien military, and maybe Wolverine, who seems too much of a wildcard to really be counted anywhere, but aside from that, I'm drawing a blank.

It seems odd because there have to be SOME members of the military who discovered mutant abilities later in life or perhaps hid theirs for a long time.

Then again, I suppose it makes sense. It's hard to imagine a soldier who takes an oath to this country being comfortable as part of what amounts to a secret army. I'd imagine if an ex-military man/woman did suddenly discover powers, they'd be more inclined to join a governmentally sanctioned group like the Avengers or make their own little patriotic militia instead. Xavier's army on the other hand is scary and devoted, a hidden force of highly trained super-powered combatants who have been known to take on governmental facilities. I can see why someone would shy away from that.

I don't really have a point to this. It's just a thought that popped into my head. Though I think I would like to read a comic involving an ex-military mutant militia (alliteration unintended). With absolutely NO ties to Xavier or any of the existing X-teams. It seems like there would be an interesting dynamic there.

8 Comments:

  • At July 07, 2008 2:44 AM, Blogger Jeff said…

    I would say this: what about one who joins just for education, discovers the powers while in, but does not wish to use it in the military- due to fears of doing "dirty jobs"

     
  • At July 07, 2008 4:40 AM, Blogger Heath Edwards said…

    don't most mutants come about their powers before they'd be of legal age to join the u.s army? once those powers kick in, i doubt they'd want to join. we've all seen 'a few good men'. mutants would be even bigger targets in the lower army ranks than normal people...

     
  • At July 07, 2008 8:11 AM, Blogger Rich said…

    Interesting idea. I'm pretty sure that Stonewall, Crimson Commando and Super Sabre all served prior to joining Freedom Force and getting killed off but that's all I can think of right now.

     
  • At July 07, 2008 8:46 AM, Blogger jhota said…

    the only two X-Men i can think of who have been in the service are Prof. X and Wolverine. and Logan was in the Canadian army, not US.

    Prof. X. is a Korean War vet.

    Wolverine joined the Canadian army twice (WWI and WWII), and was in a German POW camp.

    but i think part of it comes with the age of the characters (outside continuity) - Stan & Jack created them during the war in Vietnam, and there would probably have been a negative reaction from the audience for the book if there had been military or ex-military characters.

     
  • At July 07, 2008 9:06 AM, Blogger SallyP said…

    Well, there's Bishop, but he's from the future, and lately has been nuts, so I'm not sure that he counts.

     
  • At July 07, 2008 9:33 AM, Blogger Jack of All Arts, Master of None said…

    There's Forge, although seeing as he served in Vietnam, who knows how much of that history is in current continuity.

     
  • At July 07, 2008 11:18 AM, Blogger LurkerWithout said…

    Xavier and Juggernaut were both in Korea. Forge in 'Nam. Others (like Banshee and Wolverine) served with other countries. The U.S. military X-Team would have been either Freedom Force (and Crimson Commando is still alive, just all cyborged, as far as I can recall) or X-Factor for a time...

    I think Nicieza did a mini-series where the Russians were basically drafting every super-human they had. "Soviet Super Soldiers" I think?

     
  • At July 07, 2008 7:07 PM, Blogger Erich said…

    Rusty Collins was in the Navy when his mutant power first manifested back in X-Factor #1.

     

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